Page 85 of A Little Light

“Do you enjoy being here?”

Rachel glanced over her shoulder. “Of course I do. I love being here with you.”

“And do you maybe think that it’s something to consider down the line? You know, us coming home from work…and being here together?”

“We already do that now.”

Oh, stop being so cryptic and ask her what she bloody wants! “No, I mean something more permanent down the line?”

“O-oh, um…I don’t know. Is it something you want?”

Rachel…didn’t know. Huh. Andi had been thinking on this kind of thing for weeks now, but it appeared it hadn’t once crossed Rachel’s mind. Andi ought to slow right now. “I guess it’s probably too soon to consider those things. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Rachel took the baked chicken breasts from the oven and set them on a rack to the side of her. She lowered the stove and turned back to Andi. “I don’t think it’s too soon to have these conversations.”

“Still, it’s not something you’ve thought about. But that’s okay, nothing has to change. So long as you’re here when you can be…I’m happy if you are.”

Rachel rested back against the dining table, pulling Andi away from the counter and between her legs. “I am happy, babe. I’m happy all the time with you. I’m also ready for anything with you, so please don’t think that I’m not.”

Oh, that had Andi’s heart racing. “Yeah?”

“You chose me after everything you’d had with Jane. Me, Andi. The woman who people sneered at. The woman who people didn’t trust when it came to love. No matter what happens down the line, I’m so happy, okay?”

“It’s been seven months, but it feels so much longer. I feel as though I’ve known you for years, Rachel. Nothing is forced. Nothing is uneasy. When I’m with you, I’m equally happy. I just…I hope you’re not holding back because of Jane. I know you’re aware of my past and I appreciate that you don’t want to overstep, but that’s not possible. Jane was my past life, but you’re my future, okay?”

Rachel smiled as a tear slid down her cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry.” Andi brushed her knuckles against Rachel’s jaw. “I need you to know that I’m ready. That’s all. For anything you want.”

Rachel lifted a brow. “Anything at all?”

“I see a life with you. I see so many memories we could make. I…love you. So, yes. Anything at all.” Andi had said it, and now it was up to Rachel to accept that she loved her. Perhaps Rachel wasn’t ready yet, her last love had been much sooner than Andi’s, but she meant it. She did love Rachel. She was in love with her.

“I-I…”

Andi held Rachel’s face in her hands. “Don’t say it until you’re ready. But I needed you to know how I felt about you.”

“I am ready,” Rachel said, taking one of Andi’s hands and kissing it. “I’m so in love with you, Andi. I’ve been trying to avoid it because I wasn’t sure it was the right time, but I’m madly in love with you.”

Andi’s own emotions threatened to surface, but that was just another thing Rachel offered her. A space to feel and be open. “When I lost Jane, I didn’t imagine a world where I’d find love again. I wasn’t against it, but I couldn’t envisage it. All I needed was a little light. Something, anything, to remind me that life could be beautiful again. You are that light.”

“I can’t believe we’re here.” Rachel sniffled, staring down at Andi’s hand. “I can’t believe you were even interested in me.”

“Well, when a beautiful woman rudely crosses my path, what do you expect?”

Rachel laughed and shook her head. “You’re going to hold that against me forever, aren’t you?”

“Mmm, not forever. Just for a while longer.” Andi leaned in, kissing Rachel. “Thank you for being at the Christmas market that night.”

“Thank you for selling me the loft.” Rachel cleared her throat. “And I don’t want to put any pressure on this, but down the line…would you consider coming back?”

“T-to the loft?” Oh, wow. That was something Andi would have to think about. She couldn’t say for sure if building a new life in her old home was possible. “I…maybe?”

Rachel smiled, nodding slowly. She understood, and that was hugely important to Andi. “A maybe is fine by me.”

“It’s not a no, I promise you that. But it’s something I will have to think about for a while.”

Rachel drew Andi into a soft, lingering kiss. She touched her forehead to Andi’s, those insanely beautiful eyes gleaming. “We’re in love. That’s all I care about.”